This is our strongest team: Watson

Having been part of Rajasthan Royals' team in all six previous editions, including the triumphant one in the inaugural year 2008, star Australia all-rounder Shane Watson feels the Jaipur franchise has its strongest-ever team in the Indian Premier League this season.

"I've got no prediction, apart from we're certainly going to be extremely competitive. We've got, in my thoughts, the strongest squad we've ever had for the Rajasthan Royals. We've got really hard quality options and back-up for every position in our team which we haven't exactly had every year in the past," said Watson in an email interview to PTI about his team's chances.

However, the 32-year-old Queensland-born stalwart, who will captain the Royals this season, pointed out that with one team less following the exit of Pune Warriors this season, it's going to be an open and exciting tournament.

"But that doesn't certainly guarantee success or any more success than we've had previously because the opposition have got the same thing as well with one less team this year (which) means that there are more hard quality players that are around."

"So I think it's going to be the most toughly fought and evenly fought IPL that's been so far because the quality of players that are in every single squad is pretty amazing," he said.

Watson - who has played 52 Tests, 173 ODIs and 45 T20 Internationals for Australia - said the Royals had some very good players in their ranks with last year's core group having been retained, besides augmenting the side.

"There's no doubt we will be doing everything we can, like we have in the past, but we certainly got some pretty incredible players as well. We've been able to keep our core group that we had last year which was very important as part of our strategy for this year and then we've also been able to complement what we've had last year as well," he said.

Watson said the franchise had put behind the controversies involving a few players, who were accused of spot-fixing last year, and called the tainted trio's action as "betrayal".

"Absolutely. The controversies that happened with those three guys, we put that behind us within a week and it was incredible to be able to experience the lows that we did. I've never been involved in an environment where we have felt so betrayed about what happened because we really thought and believed that we are a tight family and to be able to see, I suppose the betrayal of those three guys from what they did," he said.

"But then for us to be able to turn it around like we did within that week, and really galvanised us, it certainly made us an even stronger group than we were previously. So we certainly put that behind us and it's only made us a stronger team."

Asked whether the Royals will be at an advantage or disadvantage with the initial phase being held in UAE because of the general elections in India, Watson said all the teams were faced with the same conditions and the key is to quickly adapt to them.

"Honestly, I don't think that it's going to benefit or hinder our team at all. Everyone's going to be in a similar boat playing in the UAE. Some individuals who have played in the UAE are little bit more (used to them) than others, but we're going to have to adapt to the conditions that we see from the start of the two weeks in the UAE. So I think that every team's going to be just about pretty much in a similar boat," Watson said.

Talking about the other teams' strengths, Watson was of the opinion that two-time champions Chennai Super Kings still look well-balanced while Sunrisers Hyderabad had picked players in a smart manner in the auction.

"There's no question that Chennai have and will always have a really well-balanced squad. They've got a lot of great Indian players, so that's a brilliant starting point and then they can just complement their overseas players around that as well. They've kept (Dwayne) Bravo as well - he's done a great job for them," he said.

"But probably, the one team has done the best in the IPL auction would be the Sunrisers Hyderabad. They were very smart in who they picked up and who they kept as well in the auction," he added.

Watson is unsure whether to open the innings with India batsman Ajinkya Rahane, a player he praised sky high and expected to play a key role in the team`s success.

"Still not sure whether I'm going to be opening. It just depends on the best make up of our team against different teams, what's going to be the best match up, so certainly nothing is in concrete at all where anyone in particular is going to bat," he said.

When asked about Rahane, Watson said: "Ajinkya Rahane is someone who I saw in my touring days. I think it was in 2010 where the Australian team played against an Indian 'A' team and from then on I loved exactly what I saw with Ajinkya. He's an incredible player, he plays all around the wicket and since he's come to the Rajasthan Royals, it's been good to get to know him as a person. He's a wonderful young guy, he's extremely grounded," Watson said.

"He just loves nothing more than to get out in the middle and bat for long periods of time and the contribution that he's really made to the Rajasthan Royals has been immense. It's great to have him around and continue having him around at the Rajasthan Royals, because he`s going to play an integral part again to our success this year," the Rajasthan skipper said.